Lipids News and Research

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Lipids are a broad group of naturally-occurring molecules which includes fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The main biological functions of lipids include energy storage, as structural components of cell membranes, and as important signaling molecules.

Current state of the art in glycoscience

Sugars were once credited with magical healing powers but are now seen like salt as an evil necessary in small doses but the cause of numerous diseases such as diabetes if taken in excess.

18 Jan 2008

Altering brain's lipid metabolism reduces Alzheimer's plaques in mice

Increasing levels of a protein that helps the brain use cholesterol may slow the development of Alzheimer's disease changes in the brain, according to researchers studying a mouse model of the disease at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

18 Jan 2008

Discovery of seven new genes that influence blood cholesterol levels

An international study of 20,000 people found seven new genes that influence blood cholesterol levels, a major factor in heart disease, and confirmed 11 other genes previously thought to influence cholesterol.

15 Jan 2008

Researchers associate six new genetic variants with heart disease risk factor

Using new techniques for rapidly scanning the human genome, researchers have associated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, two fats in the blood, to 18 genetic variants, six of which represent new DNA regions never before associated with the traits.

15 Jan 2008

New genetic variations associated with lipid levels, risk for coronary artery disease

Environmental and genetic factors influence a person's blood fat, or lipid levels, important risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). While there is some understanding of the environmental contribution, the role of genetics has been less defined.

14 Jan 2008

A few more pieces for the puzzle that is Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects as much as 10% of the world population above 65 years of age but after years of research it is still not understood exactly how the disease appears and, even less, how to treat it.

11 Jan 2008

Benefits of short-term hormonal therapy for men receiving radiation therapy for prostate cancer far outweigh the risks

Researchers report that just four months of hormonal therapy before and with standard external beam radiation therapy slowed cancer growth by as much as eight years - especially the development of bone metastases - and increased survival in older men with potentially aggressive prostate cancer.

4 Jan 2008

Hormone therapy in younger menopausal women

Could hormone therapy, when begun near the onset of menopause, prevent or delay the onset of atherosclerosis, more commonly called hardening of the arteries.

3 Jan 2008

Testosterone supplementation in older men

Older men with low testosterone levels who received testosterone supplementation increased lean body mass and decreased body fat, but were no stronger and had no improvement in mobility or cognition compared with men who did not use the supplement, according to a study in the January 2 issue of JAMA.

2 Jan 2008

Discovery of potential oral treatment for diabetes

Research in the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Science and Science Education of the University of Haifa has discovered a substance that may become an oral treatment for diabetes and its complications.

28 Dec 2007

Aging gracefully requires taking out the trash

Suppressing a cellular cleanup-mechanism known as autophagy can accelerate the accumulation of protein aggregates that leads to neural degeneration.

17 Dec 2007

Cell trafficking finding may aid drug development

With findings highlighted on a recent cover of Developmental Cell , researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City have shed important new light on key trafficking mechanisms within epithelial cells. Epithelial cells line the outside of nearly all organs.

12 Dec 2007

Protein-dependent "switch" regulates intracellular trafficking in epithelial cells

12 Dec 2007

Lipids in the brain an important factor for Alzheimer's disease

As the most common form of dementia in the Western world, Alzheimer's disease carries enormous implications for our ageing society.

10 Dec 2007

Diet low in carbohydrates reduces inflammation and blood saturated fat in metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a condition afflicting one quarter to one third of adult men and women and is an established pre-cursor to diabetes, coronary heart disease, and other serious illnesses.

4 Dec 2007

Communication key to tackling cardiovascular disease

Despite the increasing evidence that managing high cholesterol reduces cardiovascular events, many people do not achieve recommended lipid levels.

27 Nov 2007

Newly completed genome sequence may provide new treatment options for dandruff

Scientists from P&G Beauty announced that they successfully sequenced the complete genome for Malassezia globosa (M. globosa) , a naturally occurring fungus responsible for the onset of dandruff and other skin conditions in humans.

6 Nov 2007

New investigational combination pill improves multiple cholesterol disorders

Patients treated with a new investigational combination pill showed significant improvements in cholesterol, triglycerides and other key lipids that lead to heart disease, according to results presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions.

5 Nov 2007

Scientists discover new causes for neurodegeneration

Diseases that cause neurons to break-down, such as Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (Mad Cow Disease), continue to be elusive to scientists and resistant to treatments.

25 Oct 2007

Increased intestinal permeability by exogenous sphingomyelinase

Many signaling molecules involved in the pathogenesis of IBD, such as TNF or IFN, infections with bacteria or viruses and ionizing radiation, may cause an alteration of the lipid composition in the cell membrane by activation of sphingomyelinases (SMases).

24 Oct 2007